Flat panel display typically having transition metal oxide in ceramic core or/and resistive skin of spacer

Abstract

A flat panel display contains a faceplate structure (174 or 350), a backplate structure (175 or 351), and a spacer (140, 340, 0r 341). A light-emitting structure (171 or 306) is located along a faceplate (170 or 302) in the faceplate structure. An electron-emitting structure (172 or 305) is located along a backplate (173 or 303) in the backplate structure. The spacer is situated between the light-emitting and electron-emitting structures. Transition metal oxide or transition metal in oxide state is present in a ceramic core (401, 501, 0r 601) or/and a resistive skin (402, 403, 502, 503, 602, or 603) of the spacer.

We claim: 
     
       1. A spacer comprising: an electrically insulating ceramic core comprising ceramic, oxygen, and first transition metal combined with oxygen in the insulating ceramic core so that the first transition metal is in its higher oxide states; and   an electrically resistive skin situated over the insulating ceramic core and comprising ceramic, oxygen, and second transition metal combined with oxygen in the electrically resistive skin so that the second transition metal is in its lower oxide states.   
     
     
       2. The spacer of claim 1, wherein the ceramic in the insulating ceramic core comprises alumina. 
     
     
       3. The spacer of claim 2, wherein the ceramic in the electrically resistive skin comprises alumina. 
     
     
       4. The spacer of claim 1, wherein the first and second transition metals are the same transition metal. 
     
     
       5. The spacer of claim 4, wherein the transition metal is one of titanium, chromium, iron, and vanadium. 
     
     
       6. The spacer of claim 5, wherein the ceramics in the insulating ceramic core and the electrically resistive skin comprise alumina. 
     
     
       7. A flat panel display comprising: a faceplate structure having a faceplate and a light emitting structure located along an interior surface of the faceplate;   a backplate structure having a backplate and an electron emitting structure located along an interior surface of the backplate; and   a spacer situated between the light emitting structure and the electron emitting structure, wherein the spacer comprises an electrically insulating ceramic core and an electrically resistive skin situated over the insulating ceramic core and wherein the insulating ceramic core comprises ceramic, oxygen, and first transition metal combined with oxygen in the insulating ceramic core.   
     
     
       8. The flat panel display of claim 7, further comprising: a first face metallization strip situated along a face surface of the spacer adjacent to the light emitting structure; and   a second face metallization strip situated along a face surface of the spacer adjacent to the electron emitting structure.   
     
     
       9. The flat panel display of claim 8, wherein the first face metallization strip electrically contacts the light emitting structure, and the second face metallization strip electrically contacts the electron emitting structure. 
     
     
       10. The flat panel display of claim 9, wherein the electron emitting structure includes one or more focusing ridges, and the second face metallization strip electrically contacts the focusing ridges. 
     
     
       11. The flat panel display of claim 8, further comprising electrically conductive frit formed along outer edges of the faceplate structure, wherein the first face metallization strip electrically contacts the frit. 
     
     
       12. The Hat panel display of claim 8, wherein the spacer has a first edge surface adjacent to the light emitting structure and a second edge surface adjacent to the electron emitting structure, the flat panel display further comprising: a first edge metallization strip situated over the first edge surface and electrically contacting the light emitting structure; and   a second edge metallization strip situated over the second edge surface and electrically contacting the electron emitting structure.   
     
     
       13. The flat panel display of claim 8, further comprising: a plurality of potential adjustment electrodes provided over the spacer at intervals; and   a power supply circuit connected to the first and second face metallization strips wherein the power supply circuit controls the voltage distribution between the light emitting structure and the electron emitting structure.   
     
     
       14. The flat panel display of claim 13, wherein the power supply circuit is connected to the potential adjustment electrodes. 
     
     
       15. The flat panel display of claim 7, further comprising a face metallization strip situated along a face surface of the spacer. 
     
     
       16. The flat panel display of claim 15, wherein the face metallization strip is adjacent to the light emitting structure. 
     
     
       17. The flat panel display of claim 15, wherein the spacer has a first edge surface adjacent to the light emitting structure, the flat panel display further comprising a first edge metallization strip situated along the first edge surface and contacting the light emitting structure. 
     
     
       18. The flat panel display of claim 17, wherein the face metallization strip contacts the first edge metallization strip. 
     
     
       19. The flat panel display of claim 17, wherein the spacer has a second edge surface adjacent to the electron emitting structure, the flat panel display further comprising a second edge metallization strip situated along the second edge surface and contacting the electron emitting structure. 
     
     
       20. The flat panel display of claim 19, further comprising an additional face metallization strip situated along a face surface of the spacer and contacting the second edge metallization strip. 
     
     
       21. The flat panel display of claim 7, wherein the first transition metal is in its higher oxide states. 
     
     
       22. The flat panel display of claim 21, wherein the electrically resistive skin comprises ceramic, oxygen, and second transition metal combined with oxygen in the electrically resistive skin so that the second transition metal is in its lower oxide states. 
     
     
       23. The flat panel display of claim 22, wherein the first and second transition metals are the same transition metal. 
     
     
       24. The flat panel display of claim 23, wherein the transition metal is one of titanium, chromium, iron, and vanadium. 
     
     
       25. The flat panel display of claim 7, further comprising an edge metallization strip situated over an edge surface of the spacer. 
     
     
       26. The flat panel display of claim 25, further comprising a face metallization strip situated over a face surface of the spacer. 
     
     
       27. The flat panel display of claim 26, wherein the face metallization strip contacts the edge metallization strip. 
     
     
       28. The flat panel display of claim 27, wherein the edge metallization strip contacts the light emitting structure. 
     
     
       29. The flat panel display of claim 26, further comprising: at least one potential adjustment electrode situated over a face surface of the spacer and spaced apart from the face metallization strip; and   a power supply circuit connected to the face metallization strip and each potential adjustment electrode for controlling the voltage distribution between the light emitting and electron emitting structures.   
     
     
       30. A flat panel display comprising: a faceplate structure having a faceplate and a light emitting structure located along an interior surface of the faceplate;   a backplate structure having a backplate and an electron emitting structure located along an interior surface of the backplate; and   a spacer situated between the light emitting structure and the electron emitting structure, wherein the spacer comprises an electrically insulating ceramic core and an electrically resistive skin situated over the insulating ceramic core and wherein the electrically resistive skin comprises ceramic and transition metal oxide.   
     
     
       31. The flat panel display of claim 30, wherein the ceramic in the electrically resistive skin is electrically insulating. 
     
     
       32. The flat panel display of claim 30, wherein the transition metal oxide is dispersed in the ceramic in the electrically resistive skin. 
     
     
       33. The flat panel display of claim 30, wherein the transition metal oxide in the electrically resistive skin comprises oxide of at least one of titanium, chromium, iron, and vanadium. 
     
     
       34. The flat panel display of claim 30, wherein the ceramic in the electrically resistive skin comprises alumina. 
     
     
       35. The flat panel display of claim 34, wherein the transition metal oxide in the electrically resistive skin comprises oxide of at least one of titanium, chromium, iron, and vanadium. 
     
     
       36. A flat panel display comprising: a faceplate structure having a faceplate and a light emitting structure located along an interior surface of the faceplate;   a backplate structure having a backplate and an electron emitting structure located along an interior surface of the backplate; and   a spacer situated between the light emitting structure and the electron emitting structure, wherein the spacer comprises an electrically insulating ceramic core and an electrically resistive skin situated over the insulating ceramic core and wherein the insulating ceramic core comprises alumina and transition metal oxide in its higher oxide states.   
     
     
       37. The flat panel display of claim 36, wherein the electrically resistive skin comprises alumina and the transition metal oxide in its lower oxide states. 
     
     
       38. A flat panel display comprising: a faceplate structure having a faceplate and a light emitting structure located along an interior surface of the faceplate;   a backplate structure having a backplate and an electron emitting structure located along an interior surface of the backplate; and   a spacer situated between the light emitting structure and the electron emitting structure, wherein the spacer comprises an electrically insulating ceramic core and an electrically resistive skin situated over the insulating ceramic core and wherein the electrically resistive skin comprises ceramic, transition metal, and oxygen at least part of which is bonded to the transition metal and/or constituents of the ceramic in the electrically resistive skin.   
     
     
       39. The flat panel display of claim 38, wherein the transition metal in the electrically resistive skin comprises at least one of titanium, chromium, iron, and vanadium. 
     
     
       40. The flat panel display of claim 38, wherein the ceramic in the electrically resistive skin comprises alumina. 
     
     
       41. The flat panel display of claim 40, wherein the transition metal in the electrically resistive skin comprises at least one of titanium, chromium, iron, and vanadium. 
     
     
       42. The flat panel display of claim 38, wherein the insulating ceramic core includes oxygen and transition metal combined with oxygen in the insulating ceramic core so that the transition metal is in its higher oxide states in the insulating ceramic core. 
     
     
       43. The flat panel display of claim 42, wherein the transition metals in the insulating ceramic core and the electrically resistive skin are the same transition metal. 
     
     
       44. The flat panel display of claim 43, wherein the transition metal is one of titanium, chromium, iron, and vanadium. 
     
     
       45. The flat panel display of claim 38, further comprising an edge metallization strip situated over an edge surface of the spacer. 
     
     
       46. The flat panel display of claim 45, further comprising a face metallization strip situated over a face surface of the spacer. 
     
     
       47. The flat panel display of claim 46, wherein the face metallization strip contacts the edge metallization strip. 
     
     
       48. The flat panel display of claim 47, wherein the edge metallization strip contacts the light emitting structure. 
     
     
       49. The flat panel display of claim 46, further comprising: at least one potential adjustment electrode situated over a face surface of the spacer and spaced apart from the face metallization strip; and   a power supply circuit connected to the face metallization strip and each potential adjustment electrode for controlling the voltage distribution between the light emitting and electron emitting structures.   
     
     
       50. A flat panel display comprising: a faceplate structure having a faceplate and a light emitting structure located along an interior surface of the faceplate;   a backplate structure having a backplate and an electron emitting structure located along an interior surface of the backplate;   a spacer situated between the light emitting structure and the electron emitting structure, wherein the spacer comprises an electrically insulating ceramic core and an electrically resistive skin situated over the insulating ceramic core;   an edge metallization strip situated over a first edge surface of the spacer and contacting the light emitting structure; and   a face metallization strip situated over a face surface of the spacer and contacting the edge metallization strip.   
     
     
       51. The flat panel display of claim 50, further comprising: at least one potential adjustment electrode situated over a face surface of the spacer and spaced apart from the face metallization strip; and   a power supply circuit connected to the face metallization strip and each potential adjustment electrode for controlling the voltage distribution between the light emitting and electron emitting structures.   
     
     
       52. The flat panel display of claim 50, further comprising an additional edge metallization strip situated over another edge surface of the spacer and contacting the electron emitting structure. 
     
     
       53. The flat panel display of claim 50, wherein the electrically resistive skin comprises ceramic, transition metal, and oxygen at least part of which is bonded to the transition metal and/or constituents of the ceramic in the electrically resistive skin. 
     
     
       54. The flat panel display of claim 53, wherein the insulating ceramic core comprises ceramic, oxygen, and transition metal combined with the oxygen and/or constituents of the ceramic in the insulating ceramic core. 
     
     
       55. The flat panel display of claim 54, wherein: the transition metal in the insulating ceramic core is in that metal's higher oxide states; and   the transition metal in the electrically resistive skin is in that metal's lower oxide states.   
     
     
       56. The flat panel display of claim 55, wherein the transition metals in the insulating ceramic core and the electrically resistive skin are the same transition metal.